Mick's Morning News: 12.11.18

posted by Bill Mick -
Dec 11, 2018

Judge Won't Recuse Himself From Loyd Murder Case (Orlando, FL) -- The lawyers for an accused cop killer won't be able to get a new judge. Last week, Markeith Loyd's lawyers filed a motion to get Judge Frederick Lauten to recuse himself from the case, but yesterday, Lauten denied the motion. Loyd's lawyers argued that Lauten could not be impartial because he allowed police to wiretap the phones of Loyd's friends and relatives. Loyd is accused of killing Orlando Police officer Debra Clayton, but his upcoming trial has to do with the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon.

Accused Killer Was Acting Paranoid (Daytona Beach, FL) -- The roommate of an accused killer says the suspect was behaving erratically before the incident. Damon Kemp is accused of shooting two people to death last week in Daytona Beach at the Jade Park Apartment Homes. An arrest report released yesterday shows Kemp's roommate at another complex claims Kemp seemed paranoid in the days leading up to the shooting. That roommate is the one who drove Kemp to Jade Park the night the shootings happened.

Hillsborough County Firefighter Arrested (Tampa, FL) -- A Hillsborough County firefighter is facing drug charges. Lieutenant Tavoris Allen was arrested yesterday for using marijuana to make cannabis oil at a fire station in Plant City on Thonotosassa Road. The 36-year-old is charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Broward School District To Discuss Code Red Policy (Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- The Broward School District could take steps today toward addressing what one law enforcement official calls a culture problem. The school board will meet today to discuss how to identify a Code Red situation and what to do about it. A Code Red was called the day of the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, but it came more than three minutes after the first shot was fired. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is the head of a committee investigating the shooting, and he tells the Sun Sentinel school leaders need to take school security more seriously and stop thinking their school is immune from such violence.

Charges Dropped In Machete Attack (Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- A Broward County man who spent Thanksgiving behind bars will get to spend Christmas as a free man. Fort Lauderdale's Jimmie Leeks was arrested last month for a machete attack on his landlord, but police say the accuser made it all up. A witness came forward to say Leeks' landlord admitted to making up the story to get Leeks to leave the apartment. Leeks tells Local 10 News he paid a price by having his name slandered all over TV, but he's grateful to have his job and his freedom back.

Father, Daughter Graduate From EFSC (Melbourne, FL) -- Graduating from college will be an extra special memory for one family. Father and daughter Carl and Miranda Maggard each received their degrees yesterday at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. Carl had left school 20 years ago, but Miranda encouraged him to go back and finish his degree, despite him being legally blind. The two walked across the stage together, which Carl says was absolutely awesome.